Devex Newswire reports that the country received 1.7 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the global distribution facility in early March. The government paused its vaccine rollout after several European countries suspended their use of the vaccine due to concerns about blood clots. The country has only distributed 1,000 doses since launching the vaccination campaign on April 19.

Studies by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that Vaccine hesitancy is a big obstacle. In study only 59% of respondents in DRC were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Overall, respondents were wary of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The exception is Ethiopia, where 94% of respondents were willing to be vaccinated.

Dr. John Nkengasong, Africa Centre For Disease Control (CDC) director is urging African countries to accept the vaccine that is available to them. “We do not have choices,” he said at a briefing on Thursday. WHO’s Africa director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, applauded DRC’s “extremely wise” and “very generous” decision to return the vaccines for use elsewhere.

The World Bank previously found that out of 128 countries it surveyed, only 30% had plans for scaling up the necessary workforce to deliver vaccines.

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In Liverpool England, people danced together at a warehouse party as part of a Clinical trial to establish if and how social distancing can be brought to an end and people can get back to normal lifestyle. About 3,000 clubbers were rammed up against each other inside a Liverpool warehouse on Friday night, ”…waving (their) hands in they air, waving them like the just don’t care…” to pounding Techno music.

To get into the club, local clubbers had to take a lateral flow test for Covid-19 at one of four official testing centers in Liverpool, then upload the result to a website so it linked to their ticket. When they arrived at the warehouse, their results were checked, but once they passed security, the partyers were free to act as if the pandemic had never happened. There were no requirements to wear a mask, socially distance or even use hand sanitizer.

Some young women in bikini tops were dancing together, passing around half-full bottles of Rosé cocktail, while next to them a middle-aged man was dancing so hard a huge sweat patch had formed across his back. They were all beaming with clearly visible smiles, since no one was wearing a face mask, let alone social distancing. “This is the first dance,” Nick Evans, a 28-year-old legal adviser, shouted above the music. “And it could be the last dance, so I’m going to enjoy it,” he added before sashaying back into the crowd. Alice Mitchell, 20, said the only thing she’d been surprised by was a ban on bringing in hand sanitizer. A security guard had made her throw a bottle away, she said, in case she had been trying to sneak in alcohol. “Other than that, I’m having an amazing time,” she said, adding she was sticking to the edge of the dance floor to keep as safe as possible.

According to the researcher lain Buchan “This is down and dirty public health research,”. When arranging the trial, his team had quickly decided there was little point asking people to wear masks or stay in bubbles.

The New York Times reports that Since the corona virus pandemic hit Britain last March, nightclubs have remained closed. Whereas theatres and museums have been allowed to reopen (with caveats) when infection levels were low, the idea of people dancing up close to each other in a sweaty club has been seen as too much of a risk. If you wanted to go dancing in Liverpool, you had to go to illegal raves. (Last summer, thousands of people did just that, causing a headache for the police and lawmakers in Britain.) But that situation may soon change. In February, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that because of the country’s vaccine rollout, he hoped to remove all restrictions on social life in England on June 21. That would include allowing clubs to reopen, based on recent trials of events in Liverpool.

The Liverpool club night, a second event was held in the same venue on Saturday and was the first of those trials, and an attempt to see how reopening might work in practice. Other trial events in the city have included a pop concert for 5,000 fans in a circus tent and a business conference.

Some academics had criticized the nights as “human guinea pig trials,” but Iain Buchan of the University of Liverpool, the scientist leading the trials, insisted Covid-19 rates in Britain were so low that the chances of an outbreak were slim. There were 69 cases reported in Liverpool in the week running up to the event, according to official figures. “The risk of encountering someone positive in there might be 1 in 5,000,” Buchan said.

 The trial was more about working out what measures could be used to allow clubs to reopen. That included seeing if people were happy to be tested before hand and link that with tickets, monitoring people’s movements inside and using sensors to check carbon dioxide levels and ventilation. In March, Dutch researchers ran a similar trial involving 1,300 party goers in the Netherlands. They found the masks lasted five minutes, People just threw them off.

Britain has over 1,400 nightclubs, according to the Nighttime Industries Association, which represents venues, many of which had been forced to lay off staff during the pandemic. Some of those have already leapt at the chance to reopen. Fabric, a famed club in London that can hold 1,500 people, has sold out a 42-hour-long reopening weekend party that begins June 25. The Cause, another London club, is close to selling out a similar event that same weekend.

The owners of four British clubs said they welcomed the Liverpool trials, but felt more were needed to reflect different types of spaces. “We’re not a warehouse,” said the owner of Dalston Superstore, a popular club for L.G.B.T.Q. party goers in London, said in a telephone interview. Many D.J.s said they wanted clubs to reopen soon as possible, and not just for the sake of their work.  

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Aims Cutting Covid-19 Vaccine delivery time:

A handful of drone-delivery startups are currently discussing with governments around the world especially Africa on their ability to use unmanned aerial drones to transport Covid-19 vaccine doses from distribution facilities to health centers mainly in remote or hard-to-access region, flying along fixed routes to move doses in bulk. They are actively vying for a logistical role in the largest vaccination campaign in history. Several of these companies recently have entered into medical delivery partnerships with drug companies and retailers thereby positioning them to take part in the high-profile effort to distribute Covid-19 vaccines. The aim is to streamline operations and cut costs across distribution networks. The drones have temperature-control technology that is used to transport Covid-19 vaccines.

Tight security measures under consideration by governments such as Nigeria and companies meant to guard against theft and highly specific storage temperature requirements would have to be factored in.

Australian drone company, Swoop Aero, is currently discussing with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s head of public health about delivering a Covid-19 vaccines via drone using a drone delivery network it has developed in the country.

Swoop Aero, which operates fleets of electric fixed-wing drones that take off and land vertically, has delivered vaccines, such as for Ebola, as well as other medical supplies, in Africa since 2018. Some of the company’s aircraft can fly up to 90 miles on a single charge and carry more than 500 doses of vaccines.

Venture-capital investors have poured $405 million into drone startups through the first nine months of this year.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck partnered with Volansi in September to fly medicines and vaccines using an electric Volansi drone capable of carrying roughly 5 pounds of medical cargo from a Merck manufacturing facility in North Carolina to a nearby health clinic in unmanned autonomous drones.

A Startup company, Germany based Wingcopter, which develops transport drones for Health and humanitarian operations, has succeeded in raising $22Million (approx N8.38 Billion) in its latest pitch to investors. This strengthens its position as as a leader in drone-based logistics in the Healthcare sector, with a special focus on healthcare-related applications, including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The company is establishing more partnerships worldwide centering around othee fully automated delivery applications. Wingcopter The company develops, manufactures, and operates the unmanned eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft.

Silicon Valley-based Xplorer Capital and Futury Regio Growth Fund, a Germany-based fund are the core investors.
With new cash injection Wingcopter will now be able to finish building its its 7,200 square meter (77,500 square feet) partially automated serial production facility at the company’s new headquarters in Weiterstadt, Germany. The facility is currently home to more than 100 employees. The company will carry out a swift ramp-up to mass production to meet a constantly growing global demand.

The Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift, provides both one- and two-way delivery, covering distances of up to 120 kilometres. It can accurately lower a package through a winch mechanism, or land at the point of destination and return to its origin with a new payload.

The company says in an official press statement that its mass production strategy “combines the scaling methods of the automotive industry with an aviation-grade discipline for quality and safety,”

The company’s patented drone far exceeds the range and payload capabilities of commercial multicopter drones. Wingcopters can fly long distances as efficiently and quickly as fixed-wing aircraft, reaching ranges of up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) and a Guinness world record speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). Even in strong winds of up to 44 mph (70 km/h) or inclement weather.

Wingcopter is curently operting in Malawi, East Africa Providing COVID-19 support. It recently started a long-term COVID-19 response project named Drone + Data Aid to improve healthcare supply chains together with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Wingcopter has also partnered with UNICEF’S African Drone and Data Academy to train local youth in drone operations, from mission planning to piloting beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) delivery and surveying flights.

This is with the aim of improving public healthcare delivery and supporting healthcare infrastructure of African nations.

Don’t be shy. Lets know your thoughts on this article in the comments section.

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The Minister of State for health Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and the Chairman Presidential Task Force on Covid 19 Mr Boss Mustapha have both advised that Nigerians do not become complacent once they receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. They have insisted that safety protocols involving frequent handwashing, use of sanitizers and face masks in public remain in force and will be enforced to the letter.

The government officials have made this assertions in the light of ongoing efforts by the Federal government to acquire the Covid-19 vaccines and initiate distribution nationwide based on a planned strategy. Public health experts have also advised that Vaccines will only facilitate 95% immunity against the prevailing strain of Corona virus and there is still a very small window of opportunity or risk of infection. The government officials have also advised that even though individuals may have been vaccinated and acquired immunity, they could still be carriers and transmit the virus to individuals who are at risk of contracting the disease. Consequently individuals are strongly advised to sustain all safety protocols.

While briefing the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 earlier this month the Minister for Health Dr Osagie Ehanire reported that there was a reduction in case fatalities. He warned Nigerians not to let down their guard even as case fatality rates were reducing.

The current Corona virus pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide in the past 2 years and has necessitated what could eventually become the costliest vaccine development effort and biggest vaccination campaign on history.

Many Clinical trials are ongoing world wide both for drug treatment regimens and Vaccines. Drugs are meant for  treatment of already infected individuals exhibiting symptoms of illness while vaccines are meant to prevent the disease by stimulating immunity in individuals whom have been administered the vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccines work by training the body’s immune system (natural defense mechanism) to recognize and fight off antigens like Viruses and Bacteria. The vaccines themselves contain microbial part or whole viruses which have been inactivated. The body is able to keep records of these microbes when exposed to them via vaccines thereby developing a natural defense against them. If infected by the virus, the body would have enough antibodies to combat the Virus and prevent full blown disease. WHO currently recognizes more than 50 Covid-19 vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials. COVAX is the consortium comprising WHO, GAVI and CEPI that is responsible for ensuring adequate vaccine distribution to nations and prioritizing at risk individuals. Currently the vaccines which have been released require administration of a first dose and then a booster dose 3 weeks later to activate the recipient’s immune system and minimize the risk of infection from the virus.

A vaccinated person may not fall sick if infected but can still transmit the virus to friends, family and close contacts.

Lets know what you think in the comments section

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Health supply chain experts have been reviewing the federal governments nCovid 19 Vaccine distribution and administration strategy across Nigeria.

This month the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) during an online sensitization seminar (webinar) released details of how batches of the nCOVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed across Nigeria. According to the Executive Director Faisal Shuaib, NPHCDA will receive 100,000 doses of the novel Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine within the month of January 2021 with direct administration starting early February 2021. The strategy of the NPHCDA is to administer the Vaccine in 4 phases, targeting states with data showing higher percentage of patients positive for the nCov19 Virus. This would be after vaccinating frontline health workers, the elderly and vulnerable persons with co-morbidities based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The aim is to achieve an appreciable level of herd immunity in these states with at least 40% of the entire population vaccinated by end of 2021 and additional 30% by in 2022.

As a precondition, the NPHCDA requires that cold chain storage facilities providing optimum conditions for storage and distribution of the temperature sensitive vaccines are put in place by states before receiving the vaccine.

So the priority states are: Kano, Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi and Oyo will receive more doses for health workers.

The breakdown is as follows: Kano, 3,557; Lagos, 3,131; Katsina, 2,361; Kaduna, 2,074; Bauchi, 1,900; Oyo, 1,848; Rivers, 1,766; Jigawa, 1,712; Niger, 1,558; Ogun, 1,473; Sokoto, 1,468; Benue, 1,423; Borno, 1,416; Anambra, 1,379; Kebbi, 1,361; Zamfara, 1,336; Rivers, 1,306; Imo, 1,267; Ondo, 1,228; Akwa Ibom, 1,161.

Others are: Adamawa, 1,129; Edo, 1,104; Plateau, 1,089; Enugu, 1,088; Osun, 1,032; Kogi, 1,030; Cross River, 1,023; Abia, 955; Gombe, 908; Yobe, 842; Ekiti, 830; Taraba, 830; Kwara, 815; Ebonyi, 747; Bayelsa, 589; FCT, 695; Nasarawa, 661.

Requirements:

1) Cold chain storage facilities (warehousing and Transportation/ logistics)

2) Adequate Staffing to ensure administration of the doses within 5 days of receipt. 

3) Data collection tools to ensure proper tracking, documentation and follow up.

4) Adequate mechanisms to ensure 100,000 doses to be administered to 50,000 people with 21 days. (Each individual is to take a second dose after 3 weeks)

Experts say implementation will require a seamless flow of information and agile decision-making structures between the Federal, state and Local governments with civil society and traditional organisations involved to ensure optimal mobilization of the population. The information Technology (IT) support has to be robust accurate. The existing technology infrastructure for previous vaccines programs will have to be leveraged and upgraded. Adequately trained staff and step down of training from Federal to state to LGA level and the rural communities is also needed. All this will require massive planning and orientation across the states.

The private sector healthcare institutions and logistics systems have to be brought onboard and partnered for shared learning because they are well exposed and very robust in their operations especially in the areas of Cold chain end-to-end supply chain management.

In all, experts agree it will be a continuous learning and improvement process requiring commitment from everyone involved.

Don’t forget to drop a comment below

The post REVIEWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS COVID 19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLAN first appeared on CPAN WORLD.

● Most vaccines that are used in sub-Saharan Africa are from Europe and America. Africa has never had the capacity to manufacture them to meet her needs.

● Poisoning needs not come with anti-Covid-19 vaccines. It could be from yellow fever, polio, cerebrospinal meningitis, measles, and other vaccines if there was a plot to harm Africa.

● Those who think the anti-Covid-19 vaccines are to harm Africa should also realize that hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, ivermectin and whatever else is used in the chemotherapy of Covid-19 are largely from the Western world. The drugs could have been laced with chemicals to kill Africans. Testing of imported medicines is still poor in most of Africa. The intention to harm should not be narrowed to vaccines only.

● Although there exist competent scientists in Africa, they are handicapped by lack of funds and basic amenities that drive research. Even when there are breakthroughs, there are hardly funds and will power to use them for the common good.

● Bill Gates and his wife have through their foundations been solving health and socioeconomic problems for resource-poor countries in Africa. It is irreconcilable that a couple that spends so much money to sustain life in Africa will spend money again through a single vaccine to kill Africans.

● It is difficult to imagine that all the Black scientists involved in the development of the vaccines are cooperating with their Caucasian counterparts to harm Afticans.

● It is difficult to imagine that all the Black scientists involved in the development of the vaccines are cooperating with their Caucasian counterparts to harm Afticans.

● Adverse effects monitoring is a never-ending process for any medicine. It is a post-marketing surveillance process (pharmacovigilance) on the medicine. Keep in mind that it took several decades of use before aspirin was associated with Reye’s syndrome. So, we might never know all we need to about any medicine, these controversial vaccines inclusive.

● Certain medicines may be donated to Africa and poor regions. Their prices may also be reduced and these medicines are marked “Not to be sold/used in…..”. This practice that is currently for redemsivir is a pricing policy and it is not new.

● Until Africans do thorough introspection, they will continue to depend on the Western World. A man that cannot help himself must be ready to be subjected to anything by his helper. So, regardless of the noise being made, Africans will ultimately take the vaccines.

● The points above do not counter the argument that the Western world does deliberately hold Africa down in socioeconomic ways. That debate is for another day.

● African leaders should ensure that like other medicines, the vaccines must meet the irreducible minimum requirements for quality before they are deployed. The tests are prescribed by the appropriate regulatory agency. I have no doubts that NAFDAC will ensure this.

My thoughts!

Raymond Ozolua is a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology with the Faculty of Pharmacy University of Benin.

Lets know what you think. Share your thoughts on this artcle in the comments section.

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